Agenda Item
b. Approval of SecureIT (Not to exceed $2,068,760)
Summary: Presented by: Dr. Kermit Belcher, Chief Information Officer, Division of Information & Instructional Technology
Request: It is requested that the Board of Education approve the purchase of information and network security services and associated infrastructure components from Blue Ally ($534,200 Azure consumption & $148,100 managed services and support) in the amount of $682,300, Cyderes in the amount of $723,960 ($678,960 annual services & $45,000 onboarding services), Dean Dorton in the amount of $250,200, and VivacityTech in the amount of $412,300 for SecureIT for a total cost not to exceed $2,068,760.
Why: The purpose of this agenda item is to support the Division of Information and Instructional Technology (DIIT) and district leadership in ongoing efforts to secure information systems and network resources by protecting the confidentiality, integrity and availability of student, staff, and financial information/data.
Please note that this agenda item is intentionally written at a high level to provide transparency while maintaining necessary limitations that protect the district’s security posture. The SecureIT initiative supports this balance by promoting openness without compromising digital privacy, safety, or security.
Details: SecureIT is guided by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework, a widely adopted model used by leading public and private sector organizations. The framework is built around five core functions: Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover. These pillars provide a structured approach to assessing risk, securing digital assets, monitoring threats, responding to incidents, and restoring operations. By aligning with this nationally recognized standard, the district ensures that its cybersecurity efforts are both rigorous and scalable.
Key Partners and Services:
Blue Ally
Manages Microsoft Azure & Microsoft 365 environments
Provides identity management, security hardening, breach detection, and 100 hours of on-demand support
Cyderes
24/7 managed security services with real-time threat detection and response
Includes SOC, SOAR automation, threat intelligence, proactive threat hunting, and unlimited investigations
Dean Dorton
Provides vCISO leadership and cybersecurity strategy aligned to the NIST framework
Supports incident response, audits, security awareness, assessments, and attack surface monitoring
VivacityTech
Delivers Google Workspace for Education Plus
Enhances security, reporting, collaboration, and administrative tools for education environments
Financial impact: $2,068,760
General Fund:
Professional Services: 100.2800.530000.00011.7600.9990.0308.070.0000
Computer Software: 100.1000.561200.00011.7600.9990.0308.070.0000
Expendable Equipment: 100.2210.561500.00011.7600.9990.0308.070.0000
Contact: Dr. Kermit Belcher, Chief Information Officer, Division of Information & Instructional Technology, 678.676.1200
Effective: August 2025
Status: Approved by the Office of Legal Affairs
Contact Name Eric Logan Quote Number 28657-1
Email eric_logan@dekalbschoolsga.org Sales Rep Name Trystan Pratapas
Bill To Name DeKalb County School District Sales Rep Email trystan.pratapas@cyderes.com
Bill To United States Company Address 13323 Holmes Rd
Kansas City, Missouri 64145
United States
** Please reference the SOW for additional details.
Budgetary Quote Only